Graffiti Press On Nails
Today’s nails have taken me about a week to do. Not because I have spent a week continuously on them, but because I wanted so badly to love them and do a good job, that I kept procrastinating about them. So I spent a day on the base, and then left it for a couple of days. Then did the first two nails, and left it for another couple. I am pleased with how they have turned out though, so got there in the end. Despite my brain’s best efforts to give up in the belief that they wouldn’t be good enough.
For the base I used TGB She Wolf. A mid grey, neutral colour. I used the i-mix first to give the gel a really good whirl – these sets that I’m now doing for me, I am happy to try and get the best finish that I can on them, so that involves every bit of prep being done and perfect.
The tips are Apres long coffin. Gives a nice bit of length to work with, a thinner cover near the cuticle, and a thicker, stronger section at the free edge. I bought these from TNBL in the sale. Again, if I’m making tips for me to use for life, I’m using the best I can as it’s for me. I’m worth it kinda mentality. Trying hard to use my good stuff when it’s on my tips, instead of saving all the best stuff and using all my practice stuff.
Most of the stamps are from Clear Jelly Stamper plate 244 – aptly named, Graffiti. There’s a picture of this and a link below. I order direct from CJS – usually when there is a sale on as it’s cheaper than ordering from the UK stockist and there are usually some good bargains to be had in the Almost Nailed it plate section too.
For the other stamps, background splodges I’ve used some XMQ and random plates from Ali Express, Shein and Temu. Mainly the Irina 02 plate for the people and the pigeon. I’ve put a pic up of this below the CJS plate and link on this page.
I’ve used my Clear Jelly Stamper stamping polishes for the stamping. Some reverse stamped, like the people, the pigeon, phone and lightbulb. I’ve done them first so that they can dry before I apply them to the nails and top coated twice to ensure the nails are smooth and not bumpy. I’ve added a bit of shading to the grumpy old man faces and this is the first time I’ve pulled it off. It looks blended and natural and not just like random splodges so watching all the Russian nail artists is deffo paying off.
I fucked up the light bulb. That will teach me to not use a see through stamper, but at this point I was too far in to even contemplate re doing it, and trying to pick it off to move it was damaging the image, so, never mind, it’s a bit broken.
These were fun, and I love how they turned out. In fact, I’m really proud of them and looking forward to wearing them out and about. View the image at full size here. No filter, no healed spots in Photoshop.
